| name | subagent |
| description | Delegate work to builtin or custom subagents with single-agent,
parallel, forked-context, and intercom-coordinated runs.
Use for bounded specialist delegation where a single parent agent stays in
control while subagents contribute locate, analyze, pattern-find, research,
debug, or simplify passes.
|
Subagent
This skill is for the main parent orchestrator only. Do not inject or follow it inside spawned child subagents. The parent session owns delegation, orchestration, review fanout, and final writer launches; child subagents should receive concrete role-specific tasks and should not run their own subagent workflows.
Use this skill when bounded specialist delegation adds value and the parent should remain in control. Keep interactive, exploratory, conceptual, and conversation-led work inline. Multiple steps, files, tests, validation, or parallelism alone do not require a workflow; use a durable workflow for clearly delegated long-running autonomous jobs that materially need its lifecycle features.
When to Use
- Parallel codebase discovery: combine
codebase-locator, codebase-analyzer, and codebase-pattern-finder to map where code lives, how it works, and what existing conventions look like — concurrently, with fresh context per child.
- Local research mining: pair
codebase-research-locator with codebase-research-analyzer to surface prior decisions in research/ and specs/ and extract what still applies.
- External research: use
codebase-online-researcher for authoritative web sources, with persisted findings in research/web/.
- Debug and fix: use
debugger for actual failures that need reproduction, root-cause diagnosis, and a validated patch; conceptual or exploratory debugging can stay inline.
- Refinement: use
code-simplifier to clean up recently changed code without altering behavior.
- Adversarial review: compose read-only specialists (
codebase-analyzer, codebase-pattern-finder, debugger in inspect-only mode, codebase-online-researcher) into a parallel review pass — there is no generic reviewer agent.
- Subagent control: watch needs-attention signals and soft-interrupt only when a delegated run is genuinely blocked.
- Agent authoring: create, update, or override agents for a project.
Tool vs Slash Commands
Agents can use the subagent(...) tool directly for execution, management, status, and control.
Humans often use the slash-command layer instead:
/run — launch a single agent/parallel — launch top-level parallel tasks/subagents-doctor — diagnose setup, execution paths, current session, and intercom bridge state
Prefer the tool when you are writing agent logic. Prefer the slash commands when you are guiding a human through an interactive flow.
Packaged prompt shortcuts are also available for repeatable workflows. Treat them as reusable orchestration recipes, not just human slash commands. When the user asks for one of these shapes, or when the workflow clearly fits, apply the same pattern directly with subagent(...):
/parallel-review — fresh-context specialists (analyzer, debugger inspect-only, pattern-finder) with distinct review angles, then parent synthesis/review-loop — parent-orchestrated writer (debugger or code-simplifier) + specialist reviewer cycles until clean or capped/parallel-research — combine codebase-online-researcher with local locator/analyzer/pattern-finder/research-analyzer specialists/parallel-context-build — parallel codebase specialist passes that produce planning handoff context/parallel-handoff-plan — external-reference research plus local specialist passes, followed by a parent-side handoff plan and implementation-ready meta-prompt/gather-context-and-clarify — locate/analyze/research first, then ask the user clarifying questions with interview/parallel-cleanup — two read-only specialist scouts (deslop + verbosity) followed by an optional code-simplifier writer pass
Applying Prompt Techniques Without Slash Commands
The prompt templates in prompts/ encode workflows the parent agent can run on demand. If the user provides a URL, issue, PR, plan, local file, screenshot, or freeform target, treat that target as the primary scope: read or fetch it before launching children, then include it explicitly in every child task. Do not depend on the parent conversation history when the recipe calls for fresh context.
Parallel review technique
Use this when the user wants adversarial review of a diff, plan, issue, file, or implemented work. There is no generic reviewer agent — assemble the review from read-only specialists with distinct angles. Common angles: correctness/regressions (codebase-analyzer), failure-mode hunt (debugger in inspect-only mode), pattern fit (codebase-pattern-finder), prior decisions (codebase-research-locator + codebase-research-analyzer), and external-spec conformance (codebase-online-researcher). Specialists inspect files and diffs directly from git diff/git status and return concise evidence-backed findings with file/line references. They must not edit files — even debugger, which can write, must be told to inspect and report only in this pass. The parent synthesizes fixes worth doing now, optional improvements, and feedback to ignore/defer before applying anything.
Review-loop technique
Use this when the user wants implementation or current diff review to continue until reviewers stop finding fixes worth doing now. Keep the loop in the parent session: one writer (debugger for correctness-shaped work or code-simplifier for refinement-shaped work), fresh-context specialist reviewers inspect the actual repo and diff, the parent synthesizes accepted fixes, and one writer applies them. Run each bounded call in the foreground so the parent receives the result before the next step. Programmatic runs are non-interactive, so resolve only material unanswered questions before launching. Treat a writer handoff as an intermediate state, not final completion, unless the user explicitly asked for writer-only work, review-only output, or to stop after implementation. Stop when reviewers find no blockers or fixes worth doing now, remaining feedback is optional or deferred, an unapproved product/scope/architecture decision appears, or the max review-round cap is reached. Default to 3 review rounds unless I set another cap. Do not loop for optional polish, and do not let children launch subagents or decide the loop outcome.
Parallel research technique
Use this when the question needs both external evidence and local implications. Combine codebase-online-researcher for official docs, specs, ecosystem behavior, recent changes, benchmarks, and primary sources with codebase-locator/codebase-analyzer for repository files and current behavior, codebase-pattern-finder for analogous conventions, and codebase-research-locator + codebase-research-analyzer for prior decisions. Give each child a distinct angle: external evidence, local code context, local conventions, prior decisions. Ask for source links or file ranges, confidence level, gaps, and decision implications. Do not ask these children to edit — none of them should write in this pass.
Parallel context-build technique
Use this before planning or implementation when a stronger handoff is needed. Run one top-level parallel call with codebase specialists, giving each task a distinct output path such as context-build/where-it-lives.md, context-build/how-it-works.md, context-build/existing-patterns.md, and context-build/prior-research.md. Choose two to four specialists by angle: codebase-locator for the file map, codebase-analyzer for current behavior, codebase-pattern-finder for conventions, and codebase-research-locator plus codebase-research-analyzer for history. The parent reads the outputs and synthesizes the important context, a recommended next meta-prompt, open questions, assumptions, and artifact paths.
Example shape:
subagent({
tasks: [
{ agent: "codebase-locator", task: "Map files, tests, fixtures, and configs that touch: ...", output: "context-build/where-it-lives.md" },
{ agent: "codebase-analyzer", task: "Trace how this currently works with file:line refs: ...", output: "context-build/how-it-works.md" },
{ agent: "codebase-pattern-finder", task: "Surface analogous patterns to model after: ...", output: "context-build/existing-patterns.md" }
],
context: "fresh"
})
Parallel handoff-plan technique
Use this when the user needs a solution brief or implementation-ready handoff from an external reference plus local code context. Run one top-level parallel discovery call; the parent synthesizes the final handoff afterward. The discovery group usually includes codebase-online-researcher for external projects/docs/prompt guidance, codebase-locator and codebase-analyzer for local code, and optionally codebase-pattern-finder and codebase-research-* for transferable conventions and prior decisions. Use distinct output paths under handoff/, then write handoff/final-handoff-plan.md yourself with the recommended approach, likely files, constraints, non-goals, validation, risks, unresolved questions, and final compact implementation-ready meta-prompt.
Example shape:
subagent({
tasks: [
{ agent: "codebase-online-researcher", task: "Research the external reference and transferable implementation ideas for: ...", output: "handoff/external-reference.md" },
{ agent: "codebase-locator", task: "Map local files that would change for: ...", output: "handoff/local-files.md" },
{ agent: "codebase-analyzer", task: "Trace current behavior of those files: ...", output: "handoff/local-flow.md" },
{ agent: "codebase-pattern-finder", task: "Find analogous local patterns for: ...", output: "handoff/local-patterns.md" }
],
context: "fresh"
})
Gather-context-and-clarify technique
Use this when unresolved requirements and genuinely missing repository context justify a discovery pass. Launch codebase-locator and codebase-analyzer for local context, codebase-pattern-finder when conventions matter, codebase-research-locator + codebase-research-analyzer when prior docs likely apply, and codebase-online-researcher only when external docs would materially improve understanding. Ask children for concise findings plus remaining clarification questions. Then synthesize what is known and use interview to ask the unresolved questions needed for shared understanding before planning or implementing.
Parallel cleanup technique
Use this after implementation when the user wants cleanup review or when a final pass would reduce AI-slop. Launch two fresh-context codebase-analyzer scouts with output: false and progress: false: one deslop pass and one verbosity pass. If the deslop or verbosity-cleaner skills are available, pass the relevant skill to that scout; otherwise inline the criteria. Both scouts are read-only and should flag concrete issues with severity, file/line references, and smallest safe fixes. Phrase the constraint as “Do not modify project/source files; returning findings through the configured output artifact is allowed” when you use output or outputMode: "file-only". The parent decides what to apply and asks before making changes unless cleanup was already authorized. When the user opts to autofix, the parent launches one foreground code-simplifier writer with the synthesized fixes as its explicit scope.
Builtin Agents
Builtin agents load at the lowest priority. Project agents override user agents, and user/project agents override builtins with the same name.
| Agent | Purpose | Default model | Thinking | Tools | Notes |
|---|
codebase-locator | Locate files, directories, tests, and configs relevant to a topic | openai/gpt-5.4-mini | low | read, search, find, ls, bash | Read-only finder. Returns a categorized file map; no analysis. |
codebase-analyzer | Explain how specific code currently works | openai/gpt-5.5 | low | read, search, find, ls, bash | Read-only. Traces flow with file:line references; does not critique. |
codebase-pattern-finder | Find similar implementations or conventions | openai/gpt-5.4-mini | low | read, search, find, ls, bash | Read-only. Returns code snippets with file:line references. |
codebase-research-locator | Discover prior research/ and specs/ docs | openai/gpt-5.4-mini | low | read, search, find, ls, bash | Read-only. Sorts by date, tiers by recency, flags supersession. |
codebase-research-analyzer | Extract decisions and constraints from prior docs | openai/gpt-5.5 | low | read, search, find, ls, bash | Read-only. Filters aggressively for what still applies today. |
codebase-online-researcher | Web research with authoritative sources | openai/gpt-5.5 | low | read, search, find, ls, bash, write, web_search, fetch_content, get_search_content | Has the playwright-cli skill. Persists keepers to research/web/. |
code-simplifier | Clean up recently changed code without changing behavior | openai/gpt-5.5 | low | read, edit, write, search, find, ls, bash | Writer. Scopes to recently modified code by default; preserves all observable behavior. |
|
Each builtin declares an explicit model and fallbackModels sequence (typically github-copilot/<same>, then anthropic/claude-opus-4-8, then github-copilot/claude-opus-4.7). The current user-selected model is automatically appended as the last fallback and de-duplicated. Override per run with inline config:
/run codebase-analyzer[model=anthropic/claude-sonnet-4] "Trace the auth flow"
For persistent tweaks, edit subagents.agentOverrides in user or project settings. User overrides apply everywhere. Project overrides apply only in that repo and win over user overrides.
The builtin debugger and worker agents declare both intercom and contact_supervisor, so they can send progress or ask the parent for a decision when the bridge is active. Other builtin specialists finish their pass and return without live coordination. Custom agents can coordinate when they declare intercom or when the runtime bridge injects contact_supervisor; see Subagent + Intercom Coordination.
Prompting specialist subagents
Specialist agents are narrow on purpose. Write the task prompt as a compact contract that names the agent's specific job — do not duplicate the agent's own system-prompt instructions. Let the role choose the efficient path.
A strong subagent prompt usually includes:
- Goal: the concrete outcome the child should produce.
- Context/evidence: relevant plan paths, files, diffs, decisions, or user constraints already approved.
- Success criteria: what must be true before the child can finish.
- Hard constraints: true invariants only — for example, "inspect and report only, do not edit" when using
debugger as a reviewer, or "do not invent issues" for codebase-analyzer in a review pass.
- Validation: targeted checks to run, or the next-best check when validation is impossible.
- Output: the expected summary shape, artifact path, or finding format.
- Stop rules: when to stop after enough evidence, and when not to keep searching.
Avoid carrying over old prompt habits that over-specify every step. Use must, always, and never for real invariants; for judgment calls, give decision rules. For example, tell codebase-analyzer to trace the staged diff directly and report only evidence-backed findings, rather than prescribing every file or command. Tell codebase-online-researcher the retrieval budget: start with broad targeted searches, fetch the strongest sources via fetch_content, fall back to playwright-cli only when JS execution is required, and stop when the question is answered.
For implementation handoffs to debugger or code-simplifier, name the approved scope and success criteria more clearly than the process. Good prompts say what to change, what not to change, where the evidence lives, how to validate, and when to escalate. They should not ask the child to create another subagent plan or continue the parent conversation.
Settings locations:
- User scope:
~/.atomic/agent/settings.json (legacy: ~/.pi/agent/settings.json)
- Project scope:
.atomic/settings.json (legacy: .pi/settings.json)
Direct settings example:
{
"subagents": {
"agentOverrides": {
"codebase-analyzer": {
"model": "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4",
"thinking": "high",
"fallbackModels": ["openai/gpt-5-mini"]
}
}
}
}
Useful override fields: model, fallbackModels, thinking, systemPromptMode, inheritProjectContext, inheritSkills, defaultContext, disabled, skills, tools, and systemPrompt. Create a user or project agent with the same name only when you want a substantially different agent.
Discovery and Scope Rules
Agent files can live in:
~/.atomic/agent/agents/**/*.md — user scope.atomic/agents/**/*.md — canonical project scope- legacy
.agents/**/*.md and .pi/agents/**/*.md — still read for compatibility, but .atomic/agents/ wins on conflicts
Discovery is recursive. Agents can set optional frontmatter/package metadata; name: codebase-analyzer plus package: code-analysis registers as runtime name code-analysis.codebase-analyzer while serialization keeps name and package separate.
Precedence is by parsed runtime name:
- project scope
- user scope
- builtin agents
Running Subagents
Single agent
subagent({
agent: "codebase-analyzer",
task: "Trace the auth flow from the route handler through token verification, with file:line refs."
})
Enable file-based progress tracking for foreground single-agent runs with progress: true. The child maintains a run-scoped progress.md under isolated subagent artifact storage without writing it into its effective cwd; progress: false disables an agent's defaultProgress. Omission inherits that default except for read-only tasks, and artifacts: false removes foreground storage after the child exits. This is distinct from includeProgress: true, which only returns detailed runtime progress data in the final foreground result.
subagent({
agent: "debugger",
task: "Implement the approved fix and validate it.",
progress: true,
})
Forked context
subagent({
agent: "debugger",
task: "Reproduce the failing test in test/unit/foo.test.ts and propose a fix.",
context: "fork"
})
context: "fork" creates a branched child session from the current persisted parent session. It does not create a fresh minimal review context or filter history down to only the relevant parts. Use it when you want a separate writer thread that can still reference the parent session history. For adversarial review, prefer fresh context so the specialist inspects the repo directly.
Parallel execution
subagent({
tasks: [
{ agent: "codebase-locator", task: "Find every file in the auth module" },
{ agent: "codebase-pattern-finder", task: "Find existing API-key validation patterns" }
]
})
Top-level parallel tasks can override per-task behavior:
subagent({
tasks: [
{ agent: "codebase-locator", task: "Map auth files", output: "auth-files.md", progress: true },
{ agent: "codebase-online-researcher", task: "Research OAuth 2.1 changes", output: "oauth-research.md" },
{ agent: "codebase-analyzer", task: "Trace the token-refresh flow", model: "anthropic/claude-sonnet-4" }
],
concurrency: 3
})
Avoid duplicate output paths in parallel tasks. Concurrent children should not write to the same file. For large saved outputs, set outputMode: "file-only" together with an output path. The parent result then contains only a compact reference like Output saved to: /abs/report.md (48.2 KB, 2847 lines). Read this file if needed. instead of the full saved content. Do not use output: false for this; output: false means no file output. Failed runs and save errors still return inline details for debugging.
Concurrent writers conflict. code-simplifier and debugger change files. Do not run two writers in parallel against the same worktree unless you isolate them with worktree: true.
Foreground execution and resume
All subagent execution runs in the foreground and returns its result to the parent call. Parallel tasks may still run concurrently within one foreground invocation, and forked context still creates branched child sessions.
Use resume for a follow-up on a retained child:
subagent({ action: "resume", id: "run-id", message: "Follow up on this point." })
subagent({ action: "resume", id: "run-id", index: 1, message: "Continue reviewer 2." })
Resume behavior:
- If a child is still running and reachable,
resume sends the follow-up through its intercom route when available.
- Completed foreground single and parallel runs can be revived by
index while their run metadata remains in extension state.
- A revived child starts a new in-process attempt from its persisted session file.
- Multi-child runs require
index unless only one child is selectable.
- If the chosen child has no persisted
.jsonl session file, resume fails and reports that directly.
Use diagnostics when setup or child startup looks wrong:
subagent({ action: "doctor" })
Humans can use /subagents-doctor for the same read-only report. It checks runtime paths, discovery counts, current session context, and intercom bridge state.
Subagent control
Subagent control is the runtime visibility and intervention layer for delegated runs. It is separate from lifecycle status. Lifecycle status says whether a child is queued, running, paused, complete, or failed. Activity reporting is factual: it tracks the last observed activity time and the current tool when known. It does not pretend to know that a child is truly stuck.
Default behavior is intentionally conservative. When no activity has been observed past the configured threshold, the run emits a needs_attention control event. Foreground runs push this as a subagent:control-event event, and notification-worthy control events are inserted into the visible transcript so both the user and the parent agent can see them, with a proactive hint plus concrete nudge, status, and interrupt options. Visible notifications fire once per child run and attention state.
Use soft interrupt when a child is clearly blocked or drifting and the parent needs to regain control:
subagent({ action: "interrupt" })
Pass id when targeting a specific controllable run:
subagent({ action: "interrupt", id: "abc123" })
A soft interrupt cancels the current child turn and leaves the run paused. It does not mean the delegated task succeeded or failed. After an interrupt, decide the next explicit action: resume with clearer instructions, replace the task, ask the user, or stop the workflow.
Per-run control thresholds can be overridden when a task legitimately runs without observable output for longer than usual:
subagent({
agent: "debugger",
task: "Run the slow migration test suite",
control: {
needsAttentionAfterMs: 300000,
notifyOn: ["needs_attention"]
}
})
If the run already has an active intercom bridge target, needs-attention notifications can also prepare a compact intercom ping for the orchestrator. When a child route is available, the ping tells the orchestrator which agent needs attention and includes the exact intercom({ action: "send", to: "..." }) target for a nudge. Do not invent a target or ask the child to self-report when no bridge exists. Coordination depends on the resolved agent's tools and an active bridge route: the builtin debugger and worker declare intercom and contact_supervisor, while the other builtin specialists rely on the parent checking status.
Non-Interactive Execution
Every supported subagent launch starts immediately without a preview/editor prompt or terminal input. This applies to single, parallel, forked, fanout, prompt-template, and human-entered /run and /parallel execution.
Resolve questions in the parent conversation before launching children. Use interview when the user must answer a question, then put the resolved scope and validation contract in the child task. Human slash commands retain their separate parsing and event-bridge path.
Worktree Isolation
When multiple writers might run concurrently, use worktrees instead of letting them share one filesystem view.
subagent({
tasks: [
{ agent: "debugger", task: "Fix the failing test in package A" },
{ agent: "code-simplifier", task: "Clean up recent changes in package B" }
],
worktree: true
})
worktree: true gives each parallel task its own worktree-* branch under the canonical main root's .atomic/worktrees/, using the remote default branch when available and HEAD otherwise. This requires a clean git state and is mainly for intentionally parallel writer workflows. If you want one writer thread and several advisory readers, prefer a single-writer pattern instead — only debugger and code-simplifier write, so co-locating them with read-only specialists in the same worktree is safe.
Subagent + Intercom Coordination
Atomic subagents work without intercom. When Atomic's bundled intercom companion or upstream pi-intercom is installed and enabled, the bridge can give eligible child agents a private coordination tool back to the parent session without connecting either session automatically. If a child may need live coordination, invoke intercom({ action: "status" }) in the parent before launching it; the child connects when it first invokes contact_supervisor or intercom.
The builtin debugger and worker agents declare intercom and contact_supervisor. With an active bridge route, they can send progress or pause to ask the parent for a decision. Other builtin specialists finish their pass and return without live coordination; use a custom agent with bridge tools when another role needs that ability.
Custom agents that do have the bridge tool can ask the parent for a decision:
contact_supervisor({
reason: "need_decision",
message: "Should I optimize for readability or performance here?"
})
The parent replies with:
intercom({ action: "reply", message: "Optimize for readability." })
Or inspects unresolved asks first:
intercom({ action: "pending" })
Message conventions:
reason: "progress_update" is non-blocking and should stay concise.- Child-side routine completion handoffs are not expected. With the intercom bridge active, parent-side subagents send grouped completion results through the intercom companion: one grouped message per foreground parent run and one per detached child completion. Acknowledged delivery returns a compact receipt with artifact/session paths; if unacknowledged, the normal full output is preserved.
Most agents should not call generic intercom directly unless bridge instructions provide a target and contact_supervisor is unavailable. Do not invent a target.
If intercom messages do not show up, run subagent({ action: "doctor" }) or /subagents-doctor.
Management Mode
The subagent(...) tool also supports management actions.
List available agents
subagent({ action: "list" })
Create an agent
subagent({
action: "create",
config: {
name: "my-agent",
package: "code-analysis",
description: "Project-specific implementation helper",
systemPrompt: "Your system prompt here.",
systemPromptMode: "replace",
model: "openai/gpt-5.5",
tools: "read,search,find,ls,bash"
}
})
Update an agent
subagent({
action: "update",
agent: "code-analysis.my-agent",
config: {
thinking: "high"
}
})
Delete an agent
subagent({ action: "delete", agent: "code-analysis.my-agent" })
Use management actions when the system needs to create or edit subagents on demand without dropping into raw file editing.
Management actions create or update user/project agent files. config.name is the local frontmatter name; optional config.package registers and looks up the runtime name as {package}.{name}. Use the dotted runtime name for get, update, and delete. For small builtin changes such as a model swap, prefer subagents.agentOverrides in settings.
Creating and Editing Agents by File
A minimal agent file looks like this:
---
name: my-agent
package: code-analysis
description: What this agent does
model: openai/gpt-5.5
thinking: high
tools: read, search, find, ls, bash
---
Your system prompt here.
That is only a starting point. Omit package for the traditional unqualified runtime name. Common optional fields include:
fallbackModelsskillssystemPromptModeinheritProjectContextinheritSkillsdefaultProgressdefaultReadsdefaultContextoutputmaxSubagentDepth
For many customizations, builtin overrides in settings are lower-friction than copying a full builtin file.
Prompt Template Integration
The package includes prompt shortcuts for common workflows: /parallel-review, /review-loop, /parallel-research, /parallel-context-build, /parallel-handoff-plan, /gather-context-and-clarify, and /parallel-cleanup. Use them when the user wants repeatable review, review/fix loops, research, context handoff, implementation handoff, clarification, or cleanup-review patterns. /parallel-review autofix launches a debugger or code-simplifier writer (depending on feedback shape) to apply the synthesized fixes worth doing now. /parallel-cleanup autofix launches one code-simplifier writer to apply the synthesized cleanup fixes. Parent agents can also apply the same recipes directly with subagent(...) when the user describes the workflow in natural language instead of invoking a slash command.
If a prompt-template extension is installed, additional user prompt templates can delegate into subagents. This is useful when a slash command should always run through a particular agent or with forked context.
Important Constraints
- Forking requires a persisted parent session. If the current session does not have a persisted session file, forked runs fail.
- Forked runs inherit parent history. They are branched threads, not fresh filtered contexts. Use fresh context for adversarial review unless the user explicitly asks for forked context.
- Default subagent nesting depth is 5. Deeper recursive delegation is blocked, and configured values above 5 are clamped to the hard ceiling.
- Attention signals are not lifecycle state.
needs_attention means no activity has been observed past the configured threshold. paused means the child turn was intentionally interrupted or is awaiting direction; it is not the same as failed.
- Builtin coordination varies by agent.
debugger and worker declare intercom and contact_supervisor; the other builtin specialists do not. For agents without bridge tools, decide the task up front or use a custom agent when mid-run coordination is required.
- Intercom asks are blocking. A session can only maintain one pending outbound ask wait state at a time.
- Keep conversational authority clear. Advisory specialists should not silently become second decision-makers.
Best Practices
Choose foreground intentionally
Use foreground runs for every delegated call so the result gates the parent's next action. Do not duplicate a delegated job while waiting.
Keep writes single-threaded by default
A strong pattern is one writer plus advisory/research/review specialists around it. Only debugger and code-simplifier change files; the rest are read-only. Parallelize reading, review, validation, and synthesis support, not normal writes, unless you deliberately isolate writers with worktrees. A child that writes should report what changed, what was left undone, commands run with exit codes, validation evidence, surprises, and any decisions that need parent approval.
Use fork for branched writer threads
Forked runs are useful when a writer should reason in a separate thread while still inheriting the parent's accumulated context. For adversarial review, prefer fresh-context specialists that inspect the repo and diff directly unless the user explicitly requests forked context.
Prefer narrow tasks
Give subagents specific tasks rather than vague mandates.
codebase-analyzer "Trace null handling in auth.ts:18-90" works better than codebase-analyzer "Review everything".
Pick the right specialist for the angle
- "Where does X live?" →
codebase-locator
- "How does X work today?" →
codebase-analyzer
- "What does our codebase already do that looks like X?" →
codebase-pattern-finder
- "What did we decide about X before?" →
codebase-research-locator → codebase-research-analyzer
- "What does the upstream library/spec say about X?" →
codebase-online-researcher
- "X is broken — make it pass" →
debugger
- "X works but it's ugly — clean it up" →
code-simplifier
Escalate decisions upward
Most builtin specialists return on completion rather than pausing for parent decisions. The builtin debugger and worker can use contact_supervisor when an active bridge route exists, but resolve known scope, product, and architecture questions before launching any writer. If the parent realizes mid-run that the scope is wrong, steer a reachable writer or soft-interrupt it.
Intervene only on clear control signals
Use subagent control proactively when a delegated run emits needs_attention, or when a human asks you to regain control. Do not interrupt just because a child has briefly produced no output. Silence can be normal during long tool calls, test runs, or model reasoning.
Name sessions meaningfully
Use /name so intercom targeting stays stable.
Common Workflows
Locate, analyze, fix
Use explicit follow-up calls when each result should guide the next task:
const context = await subagent({ agent: "codebase-locator", task: "Map the auth files and tests relevant to: ..." });
const analysis = await subagent({ agent: "codebase-analyzer", task: "Trace current behavior of the mapped files. Use the returned context: ..." });
await subagent({ agent: "debugger", task: "Reproduce the failure and patch the root cause. Use the returned analysis: ..." });
Clarify → Discover → Implement → Review (self-orchestrated workflow)
When the user requests one of these bounded orchestration shapes, factor in the packaged prompt recipes without literally invoking slash commands. Use the same patterns through tools and subagents.
Keep builtin agent defaults unless the user explicitly asks for a different model, thinking level, skills, output behavior, context mode, or other override. Do not add overrides just because you are orchestrating; the defaults encode the intended role behavior.
When the user approves launching a subagent to carry out a workflow, treat that as approval to generate a proper role-specific meta prompt for that subagent. Include the approved plan path or summary, clarified requirements, non-goals, relevant context, role boundaries, files or areas to inspect, completion criteria, expected output, and validation expectations. Do not pass vague instructions like "implement the change fully" or "review this" by themselves.
/gather-context-and-clarify maps to: launch locator/analyzer/research specialists; synthesize findings; then use interview to ask every clarification question needed for shared understanding./parallel-review maps to: launch fresh-context specialist reviewers with distinct review angles; synthesize the feedback before applying anything./review-loop maps to: keep the parent in charge of writer → fresh specialist reviewers → synthesized fix writer cycles until no fixes worth doing now remain, an unapproved decision appears, or the review-round cap is reached./parallel-research maps to: combine local locator/analyzer/pattern-finder/research-analyzer context with external codebase-online-researcher evidence when current docs, ecosystem behavior, or API details matter./parallel-context-build maps to: run a top-level parallel group of codebase specialists with distinct output paths, then synthesize their context and meta-prompt sections./parallel-handoff-plan maps to: run external codebase-online-researcher plus local locator/analyzer/pattern-finder/research passes, then synthesize the final handoff plan and implementation-ready meta-prompt yourself./parallel-cleanup maps to: read-only codebase-analyzer scouts (deslop + verbosity) followed by an optional code-simplifier writer when the user authorizes autofix.
For feature work, use this sequence as scaffolding for parent-agent behavior:
clarify when needed → validation contract → optional bounded discovery → one writer when delegated → fresh-context specialist review when warranted → one fix writer if needed → parent review
The validation contract defines completion before code is written: expected behavior, checks, commands or user flows to exercise, and evidence the writer should return. Keep it lightweight for small tasks, but make it explicit enough that reviewers and validators are checking the intended outcome rather than the writer’s own assumptions. Subagent runs do not carry a structured acceptance field, infer acceptance policies, inject acceptance-report prompts, or run acceptance gates; put any evidence requirements directly in the task text. Do not set removed acceptance config fields on subagent() calls, parallel task items, or agent frontmatter; move those requirements into the assigned task text instead.
The first writer implements the approved change. The parent waits for its foreground handoff before review, and does not make parallel edits to the same worktree. Treat the writer handoff as the transition into review, not as final completion, unless the user explicitly asked for writer-only work, review-only output, or to stop after implementation. Specialist reviewers inspect the resulting diff from fresh context when warranted. The final fix writer applies synthesized fixes, then the parent looks over the final diff before completing. Ask only needed questions before a non-interactive launch.
For complex or risky changes, increase review and validation fanout when user intent or correctness risk materially warrants it rather than automatically trusting one reviewer. Use distinct angles such as correctness/regressions (codebase-analyzer), failure-mode hunt (debugger inspect-only), pattern fit (codebase-pattern-finder), prior-decision conformance (codebase-research-*), and external-spec conformance (codebase-online-researcher). When reviewers find non-trivial issues or the fix writer touches many lines, consider another focused review round before final validation.
For very large work, split into serial milestones instead of launching a swarm of writers. Each milestone gets one writer, a validation contract, fresh-context review, a fix pass, and parent approval before the next milestone starts. Use parallel subagents inside a milestone for read-only context, research, and review only.
Keep orchestration authority in the parent session. Child subagents should not launch more subagents or run their own orchestration loops unless the parent intentionally selected an explicit fanout agent whose resolved builtin tools includes subagent for that assigned fanout. This skill is parent-only: it is stripped from every child prompt, including fanout-authorized children. A child may still have the subagent extension tool registered, because bundled extensions load through normal discovery; registration is not authority. Typed admission policy lets a non-fanout child use only list, get, status, and doctor, and refuses delegation, resume, and interrupt. Spawned children also do not receive parent-only status/control/slash messages or prior parent subagent tool-call/tool-result artifacts, and child context filtering strips old hidden orchestration-instruction messages when they appear in inherited history. Every child also receives a boundary instruction that says the parent owns orchestration, the child must not propose or run subagents unless explicitly authorized for fanout, and writer children must call real edit/write tools instead of printing pseudo tool calls. Pass children concrete role-specific work instead.
- Clarify only when needed. Use existing context first; gather missing code or research context selectively, then ask only unresolved questions that materially affect scope, completion criteria, constraints, or non-goals.
- Define the validation contract. State completion expectations before implementation: expected behavior, checks to run, user flows to exercise, and evidence required in the writer handoff. For UI, CLI, integration, or workflow changes, include at least one validator angle that uses the product the way a user would rather than only reading code.
- Plan when useful. For complex work, write a plan doc yourself and get approval before implementation. For simple work, confirm shared understanding and explicitly note why planning is skipped.
- Implement with one writer. After approval, launch
debugger (for correctness-shaped work) or code-simplifier (for refinement-shaped work) in the foreground with a proper meta prompt that includes clarified requirements, relevant context, plan path or summary, the validation contract, and output expectations. While it runs, prepare validation or inspect adjacent code instead of editing the same worktree.
- Require a useful writer handoff. Ask the writer to report changed files, what was implemented, what was left undone, commands run with exit codes, validation evidence, surprises or new risks, decisions made inside approved scope, and decisions needing parent approval.
- Review after implementation. After the writer completes, launch bounded fresh-context specialist reviewers when risk or user intent warrants it —
codebase-analyzer for correctness/regressions, debugger (inspect-only) for failure-mode hunts, and codebase-pattern-finder for consistency. Add codebase-online-researcher for external-spec angles and codebase-research-* for prior-decision angles when the work calls for it. Use output: false unless review artifacts are explicitly needed.
- Synthesize, then run the fix writer when needed. Separate blockers, fixes worth doing now, optional improvements, and feedback to ignore/defer, then launch one foreground writer (
debugger or code-simplifier) to apply accepted fixes when implementation is authorized. If reviewers found scope/product/architecture choices that were not approved, ask the user first instead of applying them.
- Review again when warranted. If the fix writer made substantial changes or addressed non-trivial findings, run another focused parallel review round before final validation.
- Validate and complete. After the fix writer and any follow-up review return, inspect the final diff yourself, run or confirm focused validation, update docs/changelog when relevant, and summarize what changed and why.
Example writer handoff after clarification and optional planning:
subagent({
agent: "debugger",
task: "Implement the approved fix.\n\nClarified requirements:\n- ...\n\nPlan: see ~/Documents/docs/...-plan.md\n\nValidation contract:\n- ...\n\nReturn a handoff with changed files, what was implemented, what was left undone, commands run with exit codes, validation evidence, surprises/new risks, and decisions needing parent approval.",
})
Example review pass after implementation:
subagent({
tasks: [
{ agent: "codebase-analyzer", task: "Review the current diff for correctness and regressions. Inspect changed files directly; do not rely on the writer's reasoning.", output: false },
{ agent: "debugger", task: "Inspect-only failure-mode hunt on the current diff. Do not edit. Report bugs and reproduction steps.", output: false },
{ agent: "codebase-pattern-finder", task: "Review the current diff for pattern fit against existing conventions. Inspect changed files directly.", output: false }
],
concurrency: 3,
context: "fresh",
})
Example fix writer after parallel reviews:
subagent({
agent: "debugger",
task: "Apply the synthesized reviewer feedback below. Only apply fixes worth doing now; preserve user-approved scope; ask before unapproved product or architecture changes. Run focused validation and summarize what changed.\n\nReviewer synthesis:\n...",
})
Review loop
When implementation review is part of the requested shape, do not treat the first review as the final step: synthesize findings against user scope and the validation contract, then launch one writer for accepted fixes when implementation is authorized.
When a writer completes, treat its handoff as an intermediate state when review is part of the requested shape. The next parent action is bounded review, then synthesis, then a fix writer if reviewers found fixes worth doing now. Keep these calls in the foreground so each handoff is available before the next action.
For explicit review-loop requests, repeat writer → fresh-specialist-reviewers → synthesized-fix-writer cycles until reviewers find no blockers or fixes worth doing now, remaining feedback is optional or intentionally deferred, an unapproved product/scope/architecture decision needs the user, or the max review-round cap is reached. Default to 3 review rounds unless the user sets a different cap.
Parallel non-conflicting analysis
subagent({
tasks: [
{ agent: "codebase-locator", task: "Map the frontend auth flow files" },
{ agent: "codebase-online-researcher", task: "Research current retry/backoff best practices" }
]
})
Error Handling
"Unknown agent"
subagent({ action: "list" })
Setup, discovery, or intercom confusion
subagent({ action: "doctor" })
"Max subagent depth exceeded"
"Session manager did not return a session file"
Intercom "Already waiting for a reply"
Parallel output-path conflict
Worktree launch fails
Child fails before starting
Suffix-first reasoning levels
Prefer encoding reasoning levels directly in model strings with the model_name:thinking_effort syntax: model: claude-sonnet-4:high and fallbackModels: [claude-sonnet-4:medium, gpt-5:low, claude-haiku-4:off]. Valid efforts are off, minimal, low, medium, high, xhigh, and max; xhigh and max remain model-capability-dependent. The separate thinking field is deprecated but still works as a legacy default when a candidate has no suffix; suffixes take precedence. If you see a legacy thinking override, migrate it by appending the effort to model and each fallbackModels entry instead (e.g. thinking: high + model: gpt-5 → model: gpt-5:high).
fallbackThinkingLevels is an optional compatibility helper aligned positionally with fallbackModels. It only applies to fallback entries without their own suffix and should not be preferred over suffix-first entries.
